Eric Pickles backs car parking cuts at Worcester City Council

A MEMBER of David Cameron's Government has waded into the debate on Worcester's car parking cuts - hailing it as "excellent news".

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has thrown his weight behind the city council's move to reduce rates from Monday, July 21.

Mr Pickles has long been a fierce critic of town halls across the country that have hiked up parking charges, and only last year accused them of "milking motorists dry" and using them as a "cash cow".

The Tory minister was told about Worcester's reductions in parliament by Worcester MP Robin Walker on Monday - and asked if he had a view on it.

Mr Pickles, who threatened to allow drivers to park on yellow lines last year unless some councils brought down their prices, said: "This is excellent news - congratulations".

His backing comes as Worcester's opposition Labour group insisted the rises could increase congestion rather than boost trade.

Councillor Adrian Gregson, group leader, who led the move to put rates up in April before being ousted from office, said: "It's becoming a political football.

"Car parking prices need to be part of a proper transportation strategy for the city, but the Conservatives don't have one.

"Croft Road car park has been full recently - the rises will add to fumes and congestion."

But Mr Walker, who led a campaign to get the prices reduced, said: "Businesses on Worcester’s High street were outraged when shortly after the floods Labour hiked the parking charges, harming local businesses.

"It's not as if the shops weren't outspoken about the rises, they were - not one of them said they agreed with it.

"The new Conservative administration could have said 'we'll do this at the end of the year' but they've acted quickly and deserve credit."

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Councillor Marc Bayliss, deputy leader and the cabinet member for economic prosperity, said: "When the Conservatives regained control of Worcester City Council in May we promised to reverse the parking price hikes that Labour introduced.

"This is our first step towards doing that and I know motorists, visitors and businesses will welcome it."

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Among the changes is the re-introduction of the 40p for half-an-hour rate at selected sites, a flat £1 charge from 7pm and four hours parking for £5, down from £6.

Coach prices at Croft Road car park will go from £10 to £5 and for lorries, from £25 back to £5.

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Comments (10)

Does Eric Pickles also think the closure of the park and ride, with the resulting increase in congestion, and loss of trade for city shops is "excellent news"?

Does Eric Pickles also think the closure of the park and ride, with the resulting increase in congestion, and loss of trade for city shops is "excellent news"?slartibartfast1

Does Eric Pickles also think the closure of the park and ride, with the resulting increase in congestion, and loss of trade for city shops is "excellent news"?

Score: 1

skychip says...3:53pm Wed 2 Jul 14

I feel an Election coming soon!

I feel an Election coming soon!skychip

I feel an Election coming soon!

Score: 1

Pomygranit says...3:56pm Wed 2 Jul 14

As long as Pickles does not have far to walk to the chip shop, the takeaway etc etc I doubt he cares a monkeys about Worcester.

As long as Pickles does not have far to walk to the chip shop, the takeaway etc etc I doubt he cares a monkeys about Worcester.Pomygranit

As long as Pickles does not have far to walk to the chip shop, the takeaway etc etc I doubt he cares a monkeys about Worcester.

Score: 0

b1ackb1rd says...6:20pm Wed 2 Jul 14

Endorsed by Pickles? Hear that sound? That's the bottom of the barrel being scraped ...

Endorsed by Pickles? Hear that sound? That's the bottom of the barrel being scraped ...b1ackb1rd

Endorsed by Pickles? Hear that sound? That's the bottom of the barrel being scraped ...

Score: 0

green49 says...6:54pm Wed 2 Jul 14

Just one dispicable charachter he is, dont know his arse from his elbow.

Just one dispicable charachter he is, dont know his arse from his elbow.green49

Just one dispicable charachter he is, dont know his arse from his elbow.

Score: 1

bmoc55 says...8:14pm Wed 2 Jul 14

Eric Pickles is supporting the obvious. The park and ride wasn't cost effective and if continued would have been subsidised by the Council Tax payers. The days of socialist style subsidies of uneconomic business/services (spend,spend,spend ) has ended.

Eric Pickles is supporting the obvious.
The park and ride wasn't cost effective and if continued would have been subsidised by the Council Tax payers.
The days of socialist style subsidies of uneconomic business/services (spend,spend,spend ) has ended.bmoc55

Eric Pickles is supporting the obvious. The park and ride wasn't cost effective and if continued would have been subsidised by the Council Tax payers. The days of socialist style subsidies of uneconomic business/services (spend,spend,spend ) has ended.

Score: -1

WS1991 says...8:41pm Wed 2 Jul 14

bmoc55 pickles is an absolute idiot.

bmoc55 pickles is an absolute idiot.WS1991

bmoc55 pickles is an absolute idiot.

Score: -2

Samboy says...10:23pm Wed 2 Jul 14

Yes WS1991. bmoc55 is an idiot. He is stupid enough to think that economic viability is a way to stay solvent. Everybody knows that the Brown/Balls, head in the sand, borrow now to pay off all your debts is the only way forward. Ask Greece, Spain, Portugal and Ireland.

Yes WS1991. bmoc55 is an idiot. He is stupid enough to think that economic viability is a way to stay solvent. Everybody knows that the Brown/Balls, head in the sand, borrow now to pay off all your debts is the only way forward. Ask Greece, Spain, Portugal and Ireland.Samboy

Yes WS1991. bmoc55 is an idiot. He is stupid enough to think that economic viability is a way to stay solvent. Everybody knows that the Brown/Balls, head in the sand, borrow now to pay off all your debts is the only way forward. Ask Greece, Spain, Portugal and Ireland.

Score: 3

Perfman says...8:18am Thu 3 Jul 14

Samboy wrote…

Yes WS1991. bmoc55 is an idiot. He is stupid enough to think that economic viability is a way to stay solvent. Everybody knows that the Brown/Balls, head in the sand, borrow now to pay off all your debts is the only way forward. Ask Greece, Spain, Portugal and Ireland.

We need to borrow more, pay the feckless and raise general taxation. Labour the way forward in the 21st century. Alternatively we could actually run the country like a fine tuned business and balance the countries economic needs against local requirements. Labour - spend, spend, spend, bankrupt - oh it's not our fault gov

[quote][p][bold]Samboy[/bold] wrote:
Yes WS1991. bmoc55 is an idiot. He is stupid enough to think that economic viability is a way to stay solvent. Everybody knows that the Brown/Balls, head in the sand, borrow now to pay off all your debts is the only way forward. Ask Greece, Spain, Portugal and Ireland.[/p][/quote]We need to borrow more, pay the feckless and raise general taxation. Labour the way forward in the 21st century. Alternatively we could actually run the country like a fine tuned business and balance the countries economic needs against local requirements.
Labour - spend, spend, spend, bankrupt - oh it's not our fault govPerfman

Samboy wrote…

Yes WS1991. bmoc55 is an idiot. He is stupid enough to think that economic viability is a way to stay solvent. Everybody knows that the Brown/Balls, head in the sand, borrow now to pay off all your debts is the only way forward. Ask Greece, Spain, Portugal and Ireland.

We need to borrow more, pay the feckless and raise general taxation. Labour the way forward in the 21st century. Alternatively we could actually run the country like a fine tuned business and balance the countries economic needs against local requirements. Labour - spend, spend, spend, bankrupt - oh it's not our fault gov

Score: 0

Perfman says...8:20am Thu 3 Jul 14

Pomygranit wrote…

As long as Pickles does not have far to walk to the chip shop, the takeaway etc etc I doubt he cares a monkeys about Worcester.

Don't worry there are plenty of cheap food outlets let for you Pomygranit

[quote][p][bold]Pomygranit[/bold] wrote:
As long as Pickles does not have far to walk to the chip shop, the takeaway etc etc I doubt he cares a monkeys about Worcester.[/p][/quote]Don't worry there are plenty of cheap food outlets let for you PomygranitPerfman

Pomygranit wrote…

As long as Pickles does not have far to walk to the chip shop, the takeaway etc etc I doubt he cares a monkeys about Worcester.

Don't worry there are plenty of cheap food outlets let for you Pomygranit

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